We’ve been told a daily tipple is good for heart health and lowers cholesterol, however this may apply more to men than to women as women metabolise alcohol much differently to men. Nutritionist Jacquie Dale finds many women would rather forgo food than wine in their efforts to lose weight. While women drink less alcohol than men in New Zealand overall, studies are showing significant increases in the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed by women.

Wine sales increased by 17% when introduced into supermarkets. No need to despair if you enjoy wine, drinking wine in moderation still has a place in your healthy lifestyle when you enjoy it in small amounts with food. The recommendations associated with a lower risk of heart disease are based on one standard glass of wine per day which is 100mls, unfortunately chances are you’re drinking four times that amount if you are drinking at home as most wine glasses are double to triple that size. How does wine really impact our health or our waistlines?

1. Pure alcohol contains 7 calories per gram nearly twice as much as carbohydrates or proteins and almost as many as fat. Alcohol is metabolised differently to foods, it is absorbed quickly and used as energy, this means any carbohydrates or fats eaten will have to wait in line and be stored as body fat. If you are exceeding more than one drink daily you could be sabotaging your weight loss goals.

2. The first glass may act as a stimulant but alcohol is actually a sedative and a depressant. Alcohol causes a deficiency in Vitamin C, and B group vitamins it interferes with medication and can destroy brain cells. Alcohol may give us a quick fix but in the end it leaves us more depressed and dependant.

3. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions so after two glasses of wine it is easy to say yes to those cheese and crackers or another top up of wine. Alcohol works as an appetite stimulant you’ll eat more when you drink and the peanuts and salty chips offered in bars are designed to make you thirsty so you’ll drink more.

4. Alcohol is a diuretic causing water loss and dehydration. Along with this water loss you will lose important minerals like calcium and zinc. One side effect of dehydration is that you will retain water which will again slow down your weight loss efforts.

5. A study in America found that drinking two drinks a day increased the chances of getting breast cancer by 20-25%, so if you are having a drink for heart reasons and are at risk for breast cancer , you will get better protection from heart disease by taking up exercise and leaving out the wine.

6. When your goal is to lose weight calories count and two big glasses of wine could add up to 400 extra calories. If your body doesn’t use these calories in the evening they will be converted to fat.

Weight loss tips for wine lovers

1. Use smaller wine glasses and drink less often. Try to half your normal intake sometimes just being aware of how much or how often you are drinking is enough to bring about a positive change.

 2. Don’t skip a meal to try to save or bank calories before a night out, it may be tempting but you will be drinking on an empty stomach and will be more likely to snack on unhealthy foods.

3. If you are planning a night out eat a healthy meal first and balance out the additional calories with an extra half an hours exercise that day.

4. Try mixing wine with soda water to cut down your drinking, or mix sparkling wine with diet lemonade.

5. It’s a good idea to save the wine for the weekends and give your liver the weekdays to recover, your liver works hard processing alcohol so if you lighten up on the drinking over the week it can concentrate its efforts on body fat.

6. Just because the bottle is open doesn’t mean you have to finish it off. Most wines come in screw cap bottles so you can keep an opened bottle in the fridge and finish it another day. Better still purchase the cute 250ml bottles but remember that’s still two and a half serves.

7. If you drink regularly invest in a good multi-vitamin and take extra vitamin C, your body will thank you. Becoming fit and healthy is all about replacing unhealthy habits with new healthy habits, it doesn’t mean giving up wine altogether but it may mean having a good look at your consumption and making some positive changes.

If you are a woman and love to read about health and wellness go to  www.herbusinessmagazine.com  and subscribe. Meanwhile if you have weight to lose, come and see one of our coaches, we will show you how you can still enjoy a good wine, while maintaining a healthy level of fat. Click here

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